Patent envisions landline phones displaying targeted ads

A patent application has recently been approved by the USPTO which details a landline phone that would feature a GUI capable of displaying controls, targeted ads, and various infoswag. Inventor Rich Loen seems especially keen on the advertising potential of his so-called Internet protocol telephone system, which would allow businesses like hotels and spas to stream different ads depending on room price, or consumers to receive offers based on location, time of day, and type of residence, among many other possible criteria. Sounds like a good idea for service industries looking to squeeze a few more bucks out of their facilities, but maybe not ideal for the average landline user, who's gonna require more than just in-phone stock quotes or sports scores to convince him / her to let Google ads onto yet another screen. Now dangle some sweet subsidized calling plans in front of us, and we just might bite.

[Via textually]

[Dale @ May 9th 2007 8:36AM]

Thought this had already been done years ago...

http://www.amstrad.com/products/emailers/index.html

[Karl @ May 9th 2007 8:39AM]

What won't they put adverts on?

I certainly don't want adverts all over the place. I'll deal with the extra cost if it means I get less annoying clutter (don't most people just think 'oh, it's an ad' and ignore it anyway?)

[Rick Lyon @ May 9th 2007 9:35AM]

Smart guy, you can strike it rich if you get a patent for something that explodes and becomes common place 5-10 years from now.

http://www.pawpastries.com

[Masseyhall @ May 9th 2007 9:38AM]

First, regarding the title, this isn't a "patent." It's an unexamined patent application. Almost every new patent application is published 18 months after it is filed, with no mind given to its merit. You too can file an application on any ridiculous thing and see it in print 18 months later.

Regarding Engadget's comments, nothing's been "approved" yet, either. This application probably hasn't even been examined once.

Nevertheless, I bet this comment forum will soon devolve into various irrelevant rants on why the U.S. patent system is so broken.

[jd @ May 9th 2007 9:41AM]

i wonder if it will come with voice recognition so that it can show you ads targeted towards whatever your current conversation is about.

[Jeff @ May 9th 2007 9:45AM]

What kind of phones? Land-line?

Oh yeah, I think I remember having one of those...

[Jacob B @ May 9th 2007 10:42AM]

In the UK Amstrad already made a phone with adverts on the screen - called the emailer

[Dale @ May 9th 2007 11:53AM]

Read my first message I posted that already :-)

[SHOTT3R @ May 9th 2007 12:01PM]

Dreams next

[dolphonia @ May 9th 2007 5:12PM]

This has been done many times before although I do not think the ads were targeted. I would presume that this is how the patent is original. There are however obvious privacy concerns with this development.

[mlerner @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:59AM]

Notice the sketch displays a Mitel SIP phone, it's actually not a landline phone.